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A Brisbane priest has hit out against the distribution to school children of a letter from Australia’s bishops arguing against same-sex marriage.

The decision to publish and distribute the “Don’t Mess with Marriage” booklet in Catholic schools across Australia has angered Fr Terry Fitzpatrick.

“I feel angry and disappointed, but not surprised, that the hierarchy of the Catholic Church would chose such a desperate measure to influence the debate on marriage equality,” he told the LGBTI publication the Star Observer.

“It is definitely a sign that they are becoming increasingly despairing and worried that they are on the losing side.”

Fr Fitzpatrick incurred a suspension in Brisbane archdiocese in 2009, after his involvement with a breakaway parish.

This month, he condemned those in the Church responsible for the marriage letter for imposing their religious belief upon others and using children to disseminate their political message.

“They see the last vestiges of their power and influence rapidly disappearing into the sand,” he said.

“They refuse to believe that we live in a secular state and not a religious one where one religion’s laws apply to everyone regardless of their beliefs.

“They cling to the role of being the moral guardian of the nation when this serves neither society nor the Church.”

Marriage equality advocates have described the letter as harmful to children, and have asked Catholic educators to let children hear both sides of the debate if they have already received the letter.

Through his work with a Brisbane charity to support the homeless, Fr Fitzpatrick has witnessed the harm suffered by the LGBTI community through discrimination.

Fr Fitzpatrick said organisations and bodies within the Christian faith have contributed significantly to sexual persecution and should respond to the issue of same-sex marriage with compassion, not further discrimination.

The priest said marriage has been an evolving as a civil and religious institution throughout history.

“It will continue to evolve and soon we will see in this country marriage laws that will include everyone.”

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Comments

Missionari FaithThe American Bishops should know better,what our Lord had done...If you have no sin, cast the first stone.
They should bond with their President on the Leadership Carter of Dignity as themselves as Leaders and be good subjects but they are taking advantage of the civil situation to hide more their...

Clare McClean
The article on the visit of the President of the USA to the JP2 shrine is misleading.
That visit was planned prior to the upheaval.
There is now a petition asking the Bishop of Washington to apologize for his out of place and disrespectful remarks.
It is time to spread understanding...

RobertoGillRegardless of people’s thoughts about Trump, he is on record as seeing the Church as an essential service and defends actions against abortion. His country too joined a score of others recently in dedicating their countries to the Mother of God during the pandemic. Such actions on behalf of the...

MonIn my experience graduates of the Launch Out programme (Wellington only fyi) are not fit for pastoral work of any kind. They often lack humility and a sense of service which are prerequisites of pastoral work in any sphere. Merely clerics in disguise or the 'lay elite'. I am hoping one day to...